NEWCASTLE boss Sir Bobby Robson's joy at a precious Premiership win over Champions League semi-finalists Chelsea has been tempered by the news that Jonathan Woodgate could miss the rest of the season.

The 24-year-old England defender limped off with a thigh muscle injury 16 minutes from the end of yesterday's rousing 2-1 victory at St James' Park which propelled the Magpies firmly back into the race for a top-four finish.

Woodgate is likely to be fit for England's Euro 2004 campaign in Portugal during the summer, but, like Craig Bellamy, Kieron Dyer, Jermaine Jenas and Lee Bowyer, will miss vital Premiership and Uefa Cup games as the season draws to a dramatic conclusion.

With Andy O'Brien facing a two-match ban following his second sending-off of the campaign at Aston Villa last Sunday, Robson could find himself short in central defence, and he knows just how much of a loss his in-form defender will be.

"We've had some rotten luck," he admitted. "It's been costly. I looks as though he's pulled his thigh muscle, so that could be the end of him this season, which is a blow."

Victory was secured with a stunning Alan Shearer goal, the 33-year-old turning away from Marcel Desailly to beat Marco Ambrosio from all of 35 yards with an outrageous dipping shot.

Joe Cole had fired the visitors into a fifth-minute lead, but Shola Ameobi's 43rd-minute equaliser oozed class and was only upstaged by Shearer's Sunday best.